When Damian Lillard first issued his trade request earlier this month, nobody really imagined it’d take this long to get a deal done. But now, more than 20 days after requesting a move to Miami, it’s looking like Lillard might have to stay put for the time being. Whether intentional or not, Dame robbed the Blazers of leverage when he limited his list of teams to just one and Portland has (so far) refused to bow to the pressure and accept a low-ball offer.
But why does Lillard only have eyes for the Heat, and could he eventually open up his list to include other teams? While not impossible, it’s highly unlikely that Lillard backs down on his Miami or bust stance and here’s why:
“He’s made up his mind, this is what he wants,” league insider Tim Reynolds said on Saturday Sports World with Marc Stein. “There’s a billion reasons why. The connection he had with Bam Adebayo I think is a really understated story right now in this whole deal. They connected incredibly at the Tokyo Olympics. You could see bonds being formed. They’ve stayed close.”
While not a well-known relationship, Lillard and Adebay do have a history with each other that includes the Tokyo Olympics. That bond is apparently pretty tight for Lillard, as it was enough to effectively turn his back on the Blazers.
When Will The Lillard Trade Get Done?
At this point, it seems like only a matter of time before Damian Lillard finally gets his wish, but the Blazers do have some control in this. Since Dame still has several years left on his deal, Portland is in no rush to trade him and can sit patiently until they get an offer to their liking.
In other words, this stalemate is expected to spill over into August and it could be some time before an agreement is struck.
“As of midweek, Portland had been unmotivated to engage with Heat or try to get this done,” wrote Miami reporter Barry Jackson. “Maybe they hope this plays out like Durant last summer and they cajole him to start the season with the team. If so, then it’s in Dame’s hands, whether he reports to camp, makes public comments, etc.”
Only time will tell how/when this situation gets resolved, but it makes sense why Lillard wants the Heat so much. Now, it’s up to them to make it happen by any means necessary.
